Electric feeler mechanism for looms



June 14, 1932' R, c NEWTON ET AL 1,862,762

ELECTRIC FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Jan. 26, 1931 [71126770190 7". Boberl? U. jvewom She?" 00d 0. Dodge. I

Patented June 14, 193.2

nrran Si 1 ROBERT C. NEWTON, 0F NEEDHAM HEIGHTS, AND SHEET/V001) O. DODGE, OF IVIEDFORD,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR-S TO GUARANTEED PARTS, INC., 0F .ALLSTON, MASSA- CHUSETTS, A COEPOBATIGN GE MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC FEELER MECHANZSM FOR LOOMS Application filed January 26, 1931.

This invention relates to an electric feeler mechanism for looms.

Electric feeler mechanisms of the type which have a pair of rigid electric contact members embodied therein adapted to engage the filling upon the bobbin during the beatup movement of the lay and finally contact with a metal sleeve or metallic coating upon said bobbin when said filling is substantially exhausted therefrom, thereby closing an electric circuit of which the contact members and sleeve form a part, are open to the serious criticism that when the loom is running if there is any rebound to the shuttle when the electric contact members are in contact with the filling that said filling is likely to be injured, causing it to break. Furthermore, when the loom is stopped, if the electric contact members project into the path of the shuttle and it is desired to remove said shuttle from the lay, if the attendant of the loom is not careful the contact members are liable to interfere with this removal and both the contact members and the bearings in which they slide are liable to be injured.

The object, therefore, of this invention is to provide an improved feeler mechanism of the type mentioned constructed in such a manner that a rebounding movement of the shuttle with the electric contact members in contact with the filling will not cause injury to said filling, and interference between the shuttle and contact members will not cause injury to said contact members or unnecessary wear upon the hearings in which they slide.

The invention consists in an electric feeler mechanism for looms as set forth in the following specification and particularly as pointed out in the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawing Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a feeler mechanism embodying our invention, a portion of a bobbin with the filling thereon being illustrated in connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the feeler mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail transverse section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

In the drawing, 5 represents a bracket Serial No. 511,234.

against a shouldered portion 12 thereof by means of a nut 13. The casing 11 and sleeve 8 when clamped together may be rocked in unison upon the bracket 5 through a horizontal plane.

Yieldingly mounted in the casing 11 is a pair of electric contact or feeler members 14 whch are positioned in parallel relation to each other and spaced a short distance apart. The feeler members 14 are mounted to slide in a metal bearing member 15 and a metal The feeler member 14 has a shouldered portion 17 formed integral therewith, which is located within a recess 18 provided in the bearing member 15 and a spring 19 surrounds the rear portion of the feeler member 14 and is interposed between the shouldered portion 17 of the feeler member and bushing 16. The spring 19 acts to normally hold the feeler member 14; in its forward or normal position.

The device of this invention is so positioned upon a loom that the electric contact or feeler members 14: at their forward extremities will engage filling 20 which is wound upon a bobbin 21 and during the beat-up movement of he lay when the filling becomes substantially exhausted from said bobbin, the tips of said feeler members will contact with a metallic covering or coating 22 which surrounds a portion of the periphery of the bobbin, thereby completing an electric circuit between the tips of the feeler members.

The source of electric supply is connected to one of the electric contact or feeler members 14 through a plate 28 which is clamped against the rear edge of the casing 11 by means of one of the bushings 16, and a terminal 24 for an electric wire 25 is connected to the plate 23 by means of a screw 26. The other electric contact or feeler member 14 is grounded by being connected with the sleeve 12- and bracket 5 through a conducting member 27 which is clamped against the rear edge of the casing 11 by means of a bushing 16, a portion of the conducting member also being clamped between the casing 11 and shoulder 12 of the sleeve 8.

When the feeler mechanism 10 is located in its normal position the longitudinal median line thereof, which is represented by the broken line AA, is positioned at right angles to the longitudinal median line B-B of-the bobbin 21. If, however, through interference of any kind a feeler mechanism 10 is rocked in either direction through a horizontal plane, the moment that the teeler mechanism is free from this interference, it will automatically be returned to its normal position by a mechanism as follows:

Mounted in a recess 28 which is provided in the upper surface of the bracket 5 is a. helical spring 29, see Fig. 4:, said spring lying in a horizontal position in said recess with the periphery of the spring approximately flush with the top surface of said bracket. A screw 30 is mounted in the casing 11 and extends entirely therethrough and is provided with a tip portion 31 which projects into the space between two adjacent convolutions of the spring in such a manner that if the casing 11 is rocked in either direction and then released, the action of the spring 29 will be to return the feeler mechanism to its normal position. The spring 29 is held in the recess 28 by means of a rod 32.

The general operation of the mechanisn hereinbefore specifically described is as follows :-During alternate beat-up movements of the lay a shuttle with a. bobbin 21 mounted therein will be located at the plain end of the lay as the latter reaches the limit of its beat up stroke, and at this time the front tip portions of the electric contact or feeler members 14 will either contact with the filling 20 upon the bobbin or with the metallic covering 22 when the filling is substantially exhausted from the bobbin and at this latter time an electric circuit will be completed between the contact members through the covering 22 which will cause a suitable mechanism to be actuated to either stop the loom in order that the bobbin may be replaced manually or that a suitable bobbin replenishing mechanism may be actuated to replace the bobbin automatically. If, however, during the interval that the electric contact members 14 are in engagement with the filling 20 there is a movement of the bobbin which will tend to rock the feeler mechanism 10 as a whole in either direction laterally through a horizontal plane, this rocking movement will occur without injuring the filling or causing unnecessary strain to either the contact members or their respective bearings.

lVe claim:

1. A device of the character described having, in combination, a stationary member provided with a recess therein, a feeler mechanism pivotally mounted on said stationary member, and resilient means seated within said recess adapted to return said feeler mechanism to a normal position from opposite directions.

2. A device of the character described having, in combination, a stationary member provided with a recess therein, a feeler mechanism pivotally mounted on said stationary member, a spring seated within said recess, and means upon the feeler mechanism to engagesaid spring and place the latter under tension when the tecler mechanism is rocked in either direction from its normal position.

3. A device of the character described havin, in combination, a stationary bracket provided with a recess therein, a casing pivotally mounted thereon, a pair of electric contact members yieldingly mounted in said casing, a spring within said recess, and means upon said casing to engage said spring and place the latter under tension when the cas in g is rocked in either direction from its normal position.

t. A device of the character described having, in combination, a stationary bracket provided with a recess therein, a spring seated within said recess, an electric teeler mechanism pivotally mounted upon said bracket, and a member upon said feeler mechanism adapted to engage said spring, the latter being adapted to return the feeler mechanism to a normal position after having been moved therefrom.

5. A device of the character described havin g, in combination, a stationary member provided with a recess therein, a spring seated within said recess, a feeler mechanism pivotally mounted upon said stationary member, and a member upon said feeler mechanism projecting between adjacent convolutions of said spring, the latter being adapted to return the teeler mechanism to a normal position from opposite directions,

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

ROBERT C. NElVTON. SEEPJVOOD O. DQDGE.

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